Morocco star Yasmine Mrabet has responded after being victimized by a sucker punch from DR Congo‘s Ruth Kipoyi during a friendly on Monday.
Midway through the second half of the match in Berkane, Morocco, the referee showed Kipoyi a straight red card for a reckless challenge on a Morocco player.
Morocco took exception to Kipoyi’s challenge, with defender Zineb Redouani immediately getting in the face of the Congo player.
Mrabet also got involved with a shove on Kipoyi, but would have never anticipated the Galatasaray player’s response: a quick sucker punch to the face that floored the Morocco midfielder.
This should be a lifelong ban from football????
How can this happen on a football pitch????????? pic.twitter.com/mn3lH7p2Lz
— MrDoorey (@_MrDoorey) June 3, 2024
With Kipoyi likely facing a lengthy suspension, Mrabet released a statement on the incident on her Instagram account.
First of all, I would like to thank everybody for the kind messages I have been receiving after yesterday’s match.
This violent behavior should not be accepted. During competition, disagreements can occur, tensions are bound to build up, but there are lines that must never be crossed.
Furthermore, not only players but, officials and all the professionals involved in women’s football need to take responsibility for the development of the game and the safety and well-being of the players. This situation should have been calmed down in the early stages of the first game.
African football has incredible potential and still a great margin for improvement in all areas of the game. This incident should not overshadow the exponential growth of our football in the last couple of years. African teams are showing up on the world stage, and for a good reason.
The appropriate procedures are underway to report the past events and from now on I’m only looking forward.
Mrabet was part of the Morocco side that made history last summer, becoming the first Arab or North African nation to qualify for the Women’s World Cup, and then the first to advance beyond the group stage.
Morocco edged out second-ranked Germany for a spot in the round of 16, where it fell to France.
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